Rugeley men's 1st XI 2 Bromsgrove men's 1st XI 7

BROMSGROVE returned to winning ways in stunning style as they inflicted more misery on strugglers Rugeley in the Coaching Solutions West Midlands Division One on Saturday.

The Boars bounced back from defeats to title chasing Whitchurch and West Bromwich in recent weeks to keep their own slim chances of promotion alive.

Victory ensures that Bromsgrove remain in fourth place, in touching distance of the top three.

Captain Julian Court said: "We need to keep plugging away and getting results.

"We are behind the others but I think we still have a chance."

Bromsgrove came out all guns blazing and goals for Matthew Russell, Mark Robinson and Pete Hall put the visitors 3-0 up by half time.

Hall bagged three more goals in the second half to see off Rugeley, who caused concern by bagging two consolation goals.

Tom Green bagged a seventh to record one of Bromsgrove's biggest victories of the season.

Court was delighted to see his side respond emphatically to recent defeats.

He said: "Rugeley finished third a few seasons ago and they haven't lost any players, so this is a good result.

"They can be a funny team, you either lose to them or beat them heavily. Their pitch makes it hard to play any attractive hockey, so to score so many goals is very good.

"We responded well to a couple of bad results and we have to keep this sort of form going."

Bromsgrove will be aiming to keep the goals flowing and record another impressive victory when they take on bottom side Stafford at home on Saturday, February 4 (1pm start).

The re-arranged match away at Redditch is set to take place on Sunday, February 12. This will be the third attempt to play the derby fixture after the first two matches had to be cancelled because an umpire did not attend.